Succession to High Office by Jack GoodyReview by: Gottfried O. LangAfrica Today, Vol. 14, No. 5, American Policy in Southern Africa (Oct., 1967), p. 34Published by: Indiana University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4184832 .

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BOOK REVIEWS

Succession to High Office. Edited by Jack Goody. (Cambridge Papers in Social Anthropology, No. 4) (Cambridge and New York: Cam- bridge University Press, 1966. Pages 181, $6.50.)

This is No. 4 of an increasingly im- portant series of papers in Social An- thropology. Although the substantive papers by G. I. Jones on Basutoland, Martin Southwold on the Baganda, R. G. Abrahams on the Banyamwezi, and Jack Goody on the Ganja deal with the problems posed by succes- sioli to high office, Jack Goody's "In- troduction" is in the best tradition of comparative, classifying, British so- cial anthropology. The comparisons are principally between systems of succession in Africa, but include illus- trations from Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania thus increasing the cred- ibility and perhaps the universality of the type systems discussed. Goody distinguishes not only between types of succession systems but also be- tween types of dynamic structures and their relation to problems of suc- cession. These problems of succes- sion and their many solutions are dis- cussed in terms of their "gains and costs" and the factors or variables which play a significant role in the choice of a successor to high political office.

The introductory essay is both for- mal in its analysis and at times ab- stract. It is not easy relading but worth the effort for those concerned with the problem of succession. It answers the question of how a body politic, from the "acephalous type" to the pre-industrial state, has solved the problem of providing for continuity in leadership through hereditary sys- tems of succession. It also calls at- tention to the fact that even in "stem dynasties" with determinate systems of succession tensions arise because there must be a radical elimination of contenders to the throne; yet be- cause the support of troops is needed, the power of the throne may be lim- ited. In indeterminate systems of suc- cession, the period of the interregnum is particularly stressful, because the dynastic structures tend to be large

and unless the high office is regular- ly circulated among -lineages, elimina- tion among contenders to the office tends to be severe.

Although of great interest to the Africanist, the value of the papers seems to lie in the contributions, both substantive and theoretical, that they make to the problem of continuitv in leadership among simpler states. This brings into relief problems faced by modern, complex, industrial nations as they move away from hereditary succession to ever-increasing selec- tive and appointive systems. But the problems of the who and how of ac- cess to leadership and power posi- tions remain in spite of the long-time trends towards more centralized poF litical systems. The papers are man- datory reading for the stutdent of tra- ditional African political systems.

Gottfried 0. Lang * * *

Promoting Economic Development: With Illustrations from Kenya. By Jacob Oser. (Evanston, Ill.; Northwestern University Press, 1967. Pages 242, index.)

Controversies have flared for years among development economists over the choice of paths toward economic progress. Battle lines have been drawn, in particular, over industry vs. agriculture, interventionism vs. laissez faire, and diversification vs. strict cocnparative advantage. Oser, a Syracuse University economist with experience in Kenya, enters the fray in this book on the side of industry, intervention and diversification. He presents a generalhzed argument in the first half of the book and makes some attempt to- apply it to Kenya in the last half.

Oser is certainly an enthusiast for development, and his sympathies are firmly on the side of the poor coun- tries against the rich, for the poor of these countries against their elites. Unfortunately, the case he makes does not do justice to his cause. The auth- or's economic analysis in Part I is loosely reasoned and will not con- vince even the most sympathetic ec- onomists. Although the issues have been debated at length in journals and monographs, he seems to have swallowed uncritically some of the least tenable assertions of one side of the argument, including the most questionable tenets of UNCTAID dir- ector Raul Prebisch.

Part II is the more interesting sec- tion, perhaps because -the author

largely puts aside his thesis and con-- centrates otn describing the strengths and weaknesses of Kenya govern- ment policy in economic development. His detailing of selected successes and failures of the African govern- ment is well told, and his indictment of British colonial policies is refresh-- ing and to the point. Little effort is made, however, to connect the theses of Part I with the narration of Part II. Instead, Oser adopts a mildly re- formist stance and offers a few un- provocative suggestions to the gov- ernment, including tax reform, great-- er mobilization of domestic savings, more foreign borrowing at favorable terms, less reliance on private for- eign capital and more acceptance of Communist economic assistance.

Ronald A. Krieger- * * *

African Writing Today. Edited by E. Mphahlele. (London: Penguin, 1967, 7 shs./6 d., pp. 347)

Several editors have tried to en- compass within a short anthology the range of contemporary writing from the African continent. Ezekiel Mphah-- lele, himself a well-known South Af- rican author, has managed, as well as anyone, to suggest within the narrow confines of a single volume, the va- riety and quality of the African writ- ers' acievement. The editor draws, solely upon writing in the European languages and along with the English work he includes French, and the- lesser-known Portuguese authors in translation. Prose predominates over poetry and he decides to include ex- amples of the work of the major nov- elists and dramatists such as Achebe,. Nzekwu and Soyinka by extracts from their books. The material is organ-- ized by countries of the writers' birth, though this can only be a geographic convenience, as one would be hard pressed to assert national differences. in, say, the literatures of the West African English speaking countries. The balance is well maintained to survey broadly and yet represent with greater emphasis the obvious predominance of Nigeria and South. Africa.

There are inevitable gaps, though they may represent nothing more than a personal judgment of the re- viewer. No J. P. Clark. Nothing of James Ngugi. But these are minor quibbles. Certainlv no editor has managed through the inevitable com- promises of selection, to survey Af- rican writing more fully than this hu- mane writer and distinguished critic. In his introduction Mr. Mphahlele de-

34 AFRICA TODAY

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